Key Bible Verses: I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. (Philippians 3:13-14)

What is the difference between people who thrive and people who decline over a long period of time? It's not that they don't get knocked down; it's that they bounce back up. That's true of both people I know personally and those I read about in the Bible:

Jonah started out running from God, but ended up influencing a whole metropolis.

Thomas started out wracked by doubt but ended up taking the gospel all the way to India.

Peter was disappointed with his inability to withstand pressure and was also disappointed with himself. But he ended up a great Christian leader.

John Mark was rejected by a high-ranking Christian leader. He [was seen as a quitter] but ended up tapped by the Spirit of God to [write one of the Gospels].

David bounced back from several devastating failures: moral, leadership, career, and so on. Have any past failures? A great comeback is possible!

In almost every case, whether somebody bounces back or not has to do with one question: "Does that person have hope?" Hope believes in future possibility rather than resigning to current reality. People bounce back when they have hope.

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Interesting word "hope" I've heard people say they "hope" to go to heaven and I tell them I know I am going to heaven. Up to now I have tended to ignore that word because I thought of it as a situation, thing or event that is desired. So I looked it up and found it also has the definition of "to look forward with expectation of fulfillment". This new definition has shed new light on the word which I rather like. Especially with this week's devotions

Curt Schleicher

August 06, 20149:24am

i see these as not only nice words, the voice of the Living God speaking to me on a personal level. These examples set before me give me additional hope when i'm discouraged. It's like saying , "This isn't the end of something, but the beginning of a new chapter for me to write the ending." i'm so grateful for Jesus in my life. For the family that he's surrounded me with. in Jesus name i pray amen.